First Advent: The Markets

Do you remember these ornaments from a few years ago? Time to pull them out soon: It's beginning to feel like winter again, and, much to my delight, the Christmas markets rev up this first Advent weekend.

Over the years I've become more savvy. The one at Gendarmenmarkt is atmospherically located, it is true, but often overcrowded and best left to the tourists, I think. I will be back at the Domäne Dahlem Christmas market though (see breathless reports of my first visit here and here) and will swing by Kollwitzplatz one Sunday too.

Meanwhile, I'm off now to the Advents-Parcours just now, which is not so much a market as an open day (today and tomorrow) of shops and studios in Neukölln's Reuterkiez. And then we can hop on the U7 to the Swedish and Danish Christmas markets, which we miss every year, because they're so early (just this weekend!) but have inked into our calendar this time around. And then for future weekends perhaps the Rodeo design market, and the one at the Jagdschloss, and at Klausenerplatz — and do you have a favorite? — but more on all that later, because otherwise I'll miss all the fun.